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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. DRAKE, OF OHIOOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF ANDGEORGE ARMS, OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING CLASP 0P. BUTTON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43.152, dated June 14,1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. DRAKE, of (Jhicopee, in the county ofHampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulSpring Clasp or Button for Sword Belts, Braces, Jewelry, 850.; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the construction and.

operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front viewof my clasp united; Fig. 2, a front view of the plate carrying theeyelet and slot and the spring to secure and hold the button in place.Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same at the line as a; of Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a back view of the same, showing the spring in place. Fig. 5 is afront view of the plate carrying the button. Fig. 6 is a section of thesame at the line 3 y of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a back view of the same. Fig.8 is a front view of my improvement as applied to a bracelet or jewelersclasp. Fig. 9 is a back view of the plate carrying the eyelet-slot andspring. Fig. 10 is a side view of the same. Fig. 11 is a back view ofthe plate carrying the button, and Fig. 12 is a side view of the same.

It is the object of my invention to provide a secure clasp or buttonfastening, susceptible of a vibratory motion or of being made rigid,that can be united or separated with easeand when united will not openfrom use; and to this end my invention consists in a clasp made of twoplates of metal, one of which carries a stud tetminatin g in a buttonand the other an eyelet to receive the button, a slot to receive theshank of the stud, and a spring to retain the shank within the slot, andthese so united as to permit the shank of the stud to vibrate within theslot where it rests, or both plates to be rigidly united together, whilein either form the clasp can be separated with ease, but will not beliable to come apart from or while in use.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

From sheet metal of suitable strength cut a blank, A, in any ornamentalshape desired. From the center, or near it, punch a hole, co, and

a slot, b, to receive the button 0 and the shank d, which is fastenedsecurely in or near the center of the other leaf or half, B, of theclasp, also cut from the sheet metal. The upper and lower edges of theleaves A and B of the clasp must be punched with suitable openings, 0and 6, so as to leave a bar or bars,fandf, by which to attach the leavesof the clasp to the articles they are to be used with, or it is obviousthat rings, rivets, or solder may be used for such attachments.

Around the central opening, a, in the plate A, and on the inner or undersurface of the plate, from one side of the slot 11 to the other, acontinuous depression or countersink is made near to the edge of theopening and wide and deep enough to receive a wire spring, g, and retainit even with or below the surface of the plate. The spring 9 is fastenedat its center by a screw-rivet or solder in the groove in the plate,while its ends project over or beyond the edges of the slot and form astop to retain the shank or stud (I when resting in the slot 1), asshown in the drawings.

N ow, when the button 0 of the plate or leaf B is passed through thecentral opening, a, in

the plate or leaf A, the stud or shank at will be easily slipped pastand between the ends of the spring 9 into the slot b, where it will beretained by the button 0 and the projecting ends of the spring. It isobvious that to remove the shank to separate the leaves of the clasp itwill be necessary to use just force sufficient to draw the shank frombetween the ends of the spring when the button will come opposite to andcan be withdrawn easily through the central opening. It is also obviousthat if the shank cl be made round and fit loosely in the slot 11 theleaves will have a vibratory motion, and can be adapted to various usesrequiring such a yielding motion in the clasp, or it will be equallymanifest that by making the shaft d square and to fit neatly in the slotb the leaves will have no vibration, but be rigid and better adapted toother uses.

When it is desired to use my clasp in fine jewelry, it is obvious thatthe leaves 9 and 11 7 may be soldered to the ends of the chain,bracelet, or locket to which they may be attached, while the slot 10 andstud or button 12 are secured in the under plate of the clasp,

and such fastenings can be made either flexible or rigid by the meansalready described or by inserting the stud into its slot at the side ofthe clasp 9, and letting the two inner edges of the leaves meet with aclose joint. These edges will brace the clasp rigidly, as shown inFig.8, and prevent it from vibrating, while by curving the inner edgesof the leaves the clasp will be flexible.

My invention is obviously of a wide and beneficial application towearing-apparel and.

to many other uses, and is capable of being advantageously substitutedfor many known fastcnings and of a great variety of ornamentation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

A clasp or button fastening constructed, ar-

ranged, andoperating substantially in the I manner described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANCIS E. DRAKE. Witnesses:

K. HENDALL, S. 1*. STEBBINS.

